(And that’s saying something, because my confidence is… flexible.)

People who’ve never travelled in an RV think the ride is smooth. Like a big comfy living room gliding down the motorway.

That is a beautiful fantasy.

Reality?
Your RV rolls down the road like a washing machine with feelings.

Because yes: our RV shakes more than my confidence.
And my confidence has seen some things.

1) The First Wobble Is Always a Spiritual Experience

You hit the road, everything seems fine, and then you feel it—
that little shimmy through the seat and steering wheel.

Not dramatic. Just enough to make you think:
“Is this normal… or is this news?”

You glance at your mirrors. You listen for new noises. You start doing mental audits of everything you packed.

2) Wind Doesn’t Push — It Shoves

In a car, wind is a breeze.
In an RV, wind is a coworker who doesn’t understand boundaries.

A gust hits and the whole rig does a subtle: “WOO—okay, we’re still here.”

You tighten your grip on the wheel. Your shoulders climb toward your ears. Your passenger says, “It’s fine,” and you don’t answer because you’re busy negotiating with physics.

3) Passing Lorries Create Their Own Weather System

A lorry passes you and the air pressure changes like you just entered a new dimension.

First there’s the pull.
Then there’s the push.
Then there’s the moment your RV gently shakes like it’s reacting emotionally to being disrespected.

And you remain calm externally while internally whispering:
“Do not sway. Do not sway. Do not sway.”

4) Every Rough Road Makes Your Cabinets Audition for Freedom

When the road gets rough, your RV becomes a percussion instrument.

You hear:

  • a rattle from the back

  • a clunk you don’t recognise

  • something tapping rhythmically like it’s trying to communicate

  • a drawer that sounds like it’s plotting

You turn the radio down to “listen for issues,” which is just a polite way of saying you’re now monitoring for disaster.

5) You Learn the Difference Between “Normal Shake” and “Problem Shake”

Over time, you develop a professional-level sensitivity to movement.

Normal shake:

  • minor vibration

  • predictable wobble

  • “this is just RV life”

Problem shake:

  • sudden change

  • pulling sensation

  • wobble that feels personal

  • anything that makes your stomach drop

You don’t need a checklist.
Your nervous system is the checklist.

6) The Confidence Drops at the Exact Wrong Times

You’ll feel steady on a straight road. You’ll relax for one second.

Then:

  • you hit a bridge seam

  • a gust appears

  • the road grooves catch your tyres

  • or you pass a big vehicle

And instantly your confidence does a little tumble like:
“Remember fear? Let’s revisit fear.”

7) And Yet… You Get There

Here’s the part we forget while we’re gripping the wheel: the rig does its job.

It shakes. It wobbles. It complains.
But it keeps moving forward.

You arrive, park, set up, and within an hour you’re sitting outside like: “This is the life.”

As if the drive didn’t age you slightly.

Final Thoughts

RV travel isn’t smooth. It’s an experience.
It rattles your cabinets, your nerves, and occasionally your ego.

So yes:
Our RV shakes more than my confidence.
But it still gets us to the places that make it worth it — the views, the quiet mornings, the “we’re really doing this” moments.

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